Harbor Light

Creating Connections Through Christ

Pcph.org Presbyterian Church of Palm Harbor April 2016

A Safe Harbor where

the Light of Christ Jesus directs all who

are adrift to anchor themselves in Him.

Creating Connections

Through Christ

Reflections from Pastor Penny

Dear friends,

One of John F. Kennedy’s favorite stories concerned French Gen-eral Louis Lyautey. After World War I, the general asked his gar-dener to plant an oak tree in a particular part of his estate. The gardener noted that the tree the general had chosen was slow-growing and wouldn’t reach maturity for nearly a century. The general replied, “In that case, there is no time to lose. Plant it this afternoon.” Patience can be difficult. We want things to happen in our time, not God’s time, and we all need a reminder now and then to wait for the Lord. We try to teach our children the art of patience, when they ask – How many more minutes? Are we there yet? How many days/hours/minutes ‘till Christmas morning? Adults antici-pate a vacation, a visit from a loved one, a wedding day, finally reaching the front of a long line. Is it soup yet? It is my joy and privilege to begin serving as your transitional pastor at PCPH. I know you have had a difficult time recently, first losing your long time Pastor Rich, then dealing with the sud-den death of Pastor Don. I have only been here a few weeks; but I feel the love, kindness, and energy of this congregation, and I know you can look forward to a bright future. Patiently! The Session and I have begun the work of moving forward with the transition process, assessing where Don left off and how to proceed from there. It is my goal to guide you during this time, as smoothly and lovingly as possible. This far, you have looked at your history and past, said goodbye, and now you’re ready to talk about who you are, and who God wants you to be as a church family. So if you have been asking, “Are we there yet? How many more minutes? – You can rest in the assurance that Session and I are moving forward, stepping on the next stone. And we will keep you informed about progress, in this business of waiting for the Lord.

I’m excited for the journey! I pray that you are, too. In Christ, Pastor Penny

April 2016 Creating Connections Through Christ Page 2

Create and Share

Thank you to all who donated and/or shopped for

hygiene items in March. Thirty-nine ditty bags were

distributed to :

For Haiti With Love

The Shepherd Center of Tarpon Springs

Pinellas Opportunity Council

For Haiti With Love also received ten layette sets and

a package of cloth diapers. An additional ten layette

sets were given to Pinellas Healthy Start.

Our April meeting will be the 26th (Fourth Tuesday)

from 10:00am - 2:00pm. We will begin making book

bags for school supplies. Hope to see you there!

Mary Schutjer

785-9691

Film Screening

Hear the shocking true story of two All-American teenage girls

tricked into trafficking. Eighteen-year-old Brianna was an honor roll

student, cheerleader and worked at a local café. Thirteen-year-old

Lacy was an active member of her youth group and a volunteer in

her community. The 20-minute video is designed to equip preteens

and teens to protect themselves and others from being trapped in

this horrific and violent industry.

Speakers: Human Trafficking Survivor and an FBI agent

Clearwater Community Church

2897 Belcher Rd. N.

Dunedin, FL 34698 Childcare Available

April 17, 2016

6:00pm - 7:00pm

April 2016 Creating Connections Through Christ Page 3

Training Leaders Globally to Impact Their World Locally

“Though we come from countless Christian traditions, we share a single goal: to present Jesus

Christ effectively in every culture without compromise, without offense. We are to take the Gospel

to the whole world. IT CAN BE DONE.”

Forty years ago, a Baptist minister, John G. Haggai, had an idea that training local leaders to lead

their fellow nationals to Christ would be a more efficient way to spread the gospel rather than

teaching American missionaries a new language and an understanding of a new culture. The idea

revolutionized Christian ministry. In 2015, the institute trained 300 people for 70 different nations.

It was noted that the names and countries could not be mentioned, as the leaders and mission

would be jeopardized. The Institute is hoping to train 10, 000 in 2016. As India and China no long-

er give visas, those trained with Haggai are much more important. Each local leader is trained at

the cost of $12,000 versus $500,000 for one conventional missionary.

The leaders of the Institute carefully select proven, credentialed leaders from Asia, Africa, Latin

America and the Middle East for training them to impact THEIR world for Christ. No hours of learn-

ing a new culture and language. They acquire essential skills and practical how-to solutions for

communicating the Gospel; allowing them to proclaim the Gospel boldly in complex, sometimes

hostile environments, and in terms that are locally understood.

Haggai has trained 29,119 leaders for Latin America (Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, and Guate-

mala), 31,117 for Asia (Nepal, India, Thailand, and Indonesia), 17,718 for Sub-Saharan Africa (South

Africa, Niger, Uganda, S. Sudan), and 5,823 for the Middle East (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Iraq)

where those leaders remain nameless.

The very best part of our supporting this missionary cause is that 100% of our donation is used on

the program. The organizing body is set up so that when a director is selected, that director takes

the monetary responsibility of running the program. Each year there is a very special meeting/

dinner that is also covered by the directors. This leaves all donations available for mission use.

This truly is a great cause!

NOT BY MIGHT, NOT BY POWER, BUT THRU MY SPIRIT SAITH THE LORD

Visit http://www.Haggai-Institute.com to learn more.

April 2016 Creating Connections Through Christ Page 5

2 Dick Schantz 16 Charles Pollock

2 Carol Heath 16 Rick Bacon

2 Brian Sawyer 16 Kraig Ray

3 Cameron Johnson 18 Julie Haslam

4 John Ledner 19 Jody Almendarez

4 Chris Meier 20 Joan Greene

7 Luke Bauer 22 Mike Craig

7 Kelsey Linn 23 Betty Close

10 Gary Payne 23 Gladys Milliron

11 Nancy Lahr 25 Alice Jordan

11 Alan McGlone 25 Amelia Lipscomb

13 Ann Horste 28 Arlene Smith

13 Donald Hellard 28 Sue Ashcraft

14 Pat Whissel

12 Laura & James Davis

13 Melanie & Jeff Haslam

22 Heidi & Chris Robinson

26 Heidi & Carl Wingard

28 Sandra & Francis Janaszek

April 2016 Creating Connections Through Christ Page 6

February Year to Date

Income and Expenses

Income: $47,431

Expenses: $39,917

Net Profit: $7514

Wednesday April 13, 2016

“April Showers Bring May Flowers”

Did you know plants and flowers enhance our

feelings of well-being? Our own Carol Angier

and Judy Gammonley are enthusiastic garden

club members. They will demonstrate making a

simple fresh flower arrangement in a coffee

mug. This is fun and easy to do. All materials

and flowers will be available to do this arrange-

ment. You may choose to keep your arrange-

ment or donate to a hospitalized patient.

Free Spirits Program

Each program will begin with a dessert and beverage. A

donation of $2.00 per meeting is requested.

Program begins at 1:45pm.

Registration for the 2016-2017 school year is open!

Full or half day programs for children who are 2, 3 or 4 years of age

by September 1st are available.

Call the Growing Tree office for details (727-786-6158) or

visit our website at www.gtpreschool.org.

We are APPLE accredited and are recognized as a GOLD SEAL Quality Program

through the State of Florida Department of Children and Families.

April 2016 Creating Connections Through Christ Page 7

Presbyterian Church of

Palm Harbor

Children’s Ministry

Age 4 years - 5th Grade

PCPH’s children’s ministry offers two Sunday school classes

each week. One for our children ages 4 - 7 years and the second for our

children ages 8 - 12 years. These classes occur each week, and

coincide with our weekly worship service on Sunday mornings at

10:15am in the Sanctuary. All children begin their Sunday with their

specific families in the Sanctuary for a short children’s message, and

then are escorted to Sunday school classrooms where each age group

uses a specific Spark “Activate Faith” lesson. The lessons are age

appropriate, fun, and give each child a Bible based story that is clear

and effective for their faith as they grow in Christ!

Upcoming Events:

April:

Friday 4/22- Saturday 4/23

1St - 5th grade Spring Bash

Retreat to Cedarkirk!

June:

Wednesday June 8th- Saturday June 11th

PCPH- Kid’s Camp for Christ

9:00am-12:00pm

Cost- $40.00

Weekly Sunday School Birth - Age 3 - Nursery

Ages 4 - 5 - Sunday School Room 112

April 2016 Creating Connections Through Christ Page 8

STUDENT MINISTRY

Presbyterian Church of Palm Harbor

Middle School Ministry

6th - 8th

April Calendar Wednesday April 6th

Youth Group at PCPH 6:30-8:00

Wednesday April 13th

Youth Group at PCPH 6:30pm -8:00pm

Wednesday April 20th

Youth Group at PCPH 6:30pm -8:00pm Mission Night

Wednesday April 27th

No Youth Group

Friday April 29th- Saturday April 29th

Middle School Youth

Lock-In 6:00pm-8:00am

Cost- $15.00

Southwind Summer Camp 2016

Cost: $250.00

Who: 6th- 8th Grade

When: August 2nd- 6th

Be sure to register for Southwind Summer Camp 2016 spots are limited!

Contact Malissa with any questions!

Save the date for our upcoming mid-dle school lock-in this April!

Cost is $15.00 and includes all activi-ties, food, and snacks! Be sure to

register with Malissa!

April 2016 Creating Connections Through Christ Page 9

STUDENT MINISTRY

Presbyterian Church of Palm Harbor

High School Ministry

9th - 12th

April Calendar

High School Youth

3rd - Youth Group at Dunedin Cause-way 7:00pm - 8:30pm

10th- Youth Group at PCPH

7:00pm - 8:30pm

15th- Guys Night at PCPH

7:00pm - 8:00am

17th - Youth Group at PCPH

7:00pm - 8:30pm - Mission Night

24th - “Can you Escape?”

5:00pm - 8:00pm

Bring your favorite snacks, friends,

Xbox, and get ready for no sleep for

our annual spring guys night in the

PCPH Youth room!

When: April 15th

Time: 7:00pm-8:00am

Can You Escape?

Attention High school students join us on April 24th from 6:00pm-8:30pm for a challenging night in the Escape Room! Come test your critical thinking, and see how well you work together as a team as we try to escape! Cost is $10.00 and it includes dinner and activity!

Please RSVP with Malissa by April 17th!

April 2016 Creating Connections Through Christ Page 11

Rays Fans

It’s that time of year again. Friday, April 29th, the Tampa Bay Rays will be hosting the Toronto Blue Jays. Come and join other Presbyterians from the Tampa Bay area for the 5th annual Presbytery Group day with the Rays! This year we will have seats in the lower level and the price of $30 includes a Rays’ hat; which can be picked up by showing your ticket at the redemption center across from Gate 3 concourse until the 5th inning.

We will be renting a van this year, to make sure we complete the round trip. Cost of the van will be split

between the riders. There is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex and/or office. Indicate how many seats you will need for the van. Deadline to order is April 18th. Tickets can also be purchased to donate to the Beth El Farmworkers Ministry for the workers. If you have questions, please call Bob Walker at 727-942-9453.

Harbor Light Deadlines

April 20

May 18

June 20

Bulletin Deadline

Please submit your bulletin announce-

ment by 2:00pm on Tuesday afternoon.

If not received by then, your announce-

ment may not appear in the Sunday

bulletin.

Bella Grace born 12/18/15

Saturday, May 7th Mother’s Day Weekend

Check in: 8:00am

Walk Starts: 9:00am

Make your steps count.

Show that LIFE matters to you!

Visit iwalkforlife.com for more information and to register.